What is a major difference between civil law and criminal law?

A significant distinction between civil law and criminal law is that civil law primarily deals with disputes between individuals or organizations, whereas criminal law focuses on offenses considered to be against the state or public. In civil law, individuals seek remedies or compensation for personal grievances, such as breaches of contract or tort claims. In contrast, criminal law is concerned with prosecuting offenders for acts that are deemed harmful to society, which can lead to penalties including imprisonment or fines imposed by the state.

This fundamental difference highlights the roles and objectives of each legal system: civil law aims to resolve personal disputes and provide compensation, while criminal law aims to deter and punish behaviors that threaten societal order and safety. The other options introduce concepts that do not accurately describe the key differences between these two branches of law, such as the nature of compensation, the presence of indictments, or the role of judges and juries, which do not distinctly separate civil from criminal law.